On January 6, 2020, Shaunna O’Connell (R) resigned from the Third Bristol District seat in the Massachusetts State House after becoming the mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts. O’Connell defeated Taunton City Council member Estele Borges (D) to become Taunton’s mayor on November 5, 2019. Taunton’s incumbent mayor, Thomas Hoye Jr., did not run for re-election.

Before winning Taunton’s mayoral election, O’Connell served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for nine years.

In Massachusetts, state legislative vacancies are filled through special elections. The Third Bristol District special election has been scheduled by Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin. The primary election will take place on March 3, 2020, and the general election will take place on March 31, 2020.

There are two other vacancies in the Massachusetts State House which will be filled via special elections. The 32nd Middlesex District became vacant when Paul Brodeur resigned after winning the mayoral election in Melrose, Massachusetts, in November 2019. The 37th Middlesex District became vacant when Jennifer Benson resigned after accepting a leadership position at the Alliance for Business Leadership.

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